Safety-signal railroad-switch stand.



' Patented Oct. 23, I900. J. B. CULVIN. SAFETY SIGNAL RAILROAD SWITCH STAND. (Application filed June 2, 1900.) (No Model.)

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Q .mllll (75707012; 0 2111;? @flm 7 No. 660,488 Patented Oct. 23, 1900. .1. B. CULVIN.

SAFETY SlGNAL RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

(Application filed June 2, 1900.)

{No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN B. COLVIN, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

SAFETY-SIG NAL RAILROAD-SWITCH STAN D.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 660,488, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed June 2, 1900. Serial No. 18,858. kNo model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. CoLvIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Safety Signal Railroad- Switch Stands; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my stand with the lever in the position shown in full Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a section on the line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the switch-shaft M and the tubular signal-carrier K. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the lock and adjacent parts. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the locking arms or catches F and G. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key.

The invention relates to signal switchstands for railroads; and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of de-- vices, as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to provide a signal-stand which will not indicate that the switch is safe until it is locked in closed position.

In the usual signal-stands the white or safety signal is shown when the switch is closed and the red or danger signal when it is open. In these stands the white shows immediately on closing the switch, signifying that it is safe, while it is merely closed, not locked. In this invention a switch which is merely closed and not locked is treated as an open switch, the white or safety signal showing only after the locking operation.

In the accompanying drawings the letter A designates the frame of the stand, which may be of any ordinary style.

B indicates the arc track of the stand, having the usual open and close slots 0t and 6, adapted for engagement with the under latchtof the switch-lever L. At one end portion of the arc track is provided the lock E, whereof the incasement is formed with a bolt-opening at each end, as indicated at c and d. The lock mechanism consists of a main pivoted catch F, to which is pivoted an arm-catch Gr; which is in reverse position, these two catches being arranged just inside the two openings 0 and (1, respectively. A spring a is fastened to the incasement and acts upon the main or switch catch F, and a spring d, fastened to the main catch, acts upon the arm or signal catch G. An adjusting-screw is provided in the tail of the main catch to regulate the relative position of the signal-catch which rests thereon. A springslide H is provided in the lock, serving to eject the switch-bolt when the lock is opened by means of a key h. A form may be used in the look, as indicated at e, to provide for changes in the shape of the key when advisable. Usually a longitudinal partition is provided in the incasement, said partition being provided with a key-passage leading to the catch-chamber, so that the lock cannot be operated without a key of the proper shape.

In the stand is pivoted the vertical switchshaft M, carrying at its lower end the switcharm m and having the lever L secured to its middle portion, this lever having a projection or stop Z at its rear end. The lever is pivoted in position to move upon the arc track and is provided with a bearing or seat Z, which carries the switch-bolt I. A lever-arm'n is pivoted to the lever and is designed to operate the switch-bolt, engaging a projection n thereof for the purpose. A stop at is provided on the lever at the opposite side from the projection 'n to limit the backward movement of the arm n. The lever-arm is usually provided with a lip guard or projection f at its rear end, which, extending over the hub 12 of the signal lever-arm P, serves to hold the latter in such manner as to prevent removal.

The signal lever-arm P is provided with a tubular signal-carrier K, extending upward from its hub,which engages the vertical extension M of the switch-shaft in such a manner as to turn freely thereon within certain limits governed by the position of the lock and that of the end stop Zof the lever L. To the top of this tubular carrier K are secured the signalblades Z or devices employed to show whether the switch is open or closed.

The signal lever-arm P is provided at its outer end with a switch-bolt J, which is designed to enter the lock at its rear end to engage the rear catch Gof the lock mechanism. A retracting device is also provided for this signal lever-arm. Usually the hubp of the signal lever-arm is made in pulley form to carry a chain or connection '0, which passes over a pulley s to the spring S, which is designed to retract the signal lever-arm when disengaged from the lock.

The lock is a double-catch or compound spring-lock, and it is designed especially for use in this connection, the operation being as follows: The key being inserted in the lock, it is turned one-fourth around to pass it through the form, then pushed through the opening in the casing-partition, and farther turned to lift the switch-catch, releasing the switch-bolt, which is thrown by the springslide out of the lock. Then the latch of the switch-lever is raised and the lever moved around until the switch is opened, when the latch of the lever will engage the slot and the signal lever-arm will be caught by the spring-lock in position, showing the danger signal. In this position the signal will remain when the switch is closed by moving the lever in the proper direction. In order to lock the switch after closing it, push the switch-bolt on the lever into the lock until it is caught by the main catch F, thereby locking the lever in position and at the-same time releasing the catch G of the signal-arm, which being independent of the switch-lever swings back into position, showing the white or safety signal.

In the lock construction it will be observed that when the signal-arm catch is locked the switch-lever catch is in raised position, allowing the switch to be moved at will, the locked position of the signal-arm always showing the red or danger signal; but when the switchlever is locked in position the signal-arm catch is raised, releasing the signal-lever and sho wing the white or safety signal.

The tubular signal-carrier K is provided at the top end with a slot or socket to hold a switch-lamp for signals at night.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A safety switch-stand, having a vertical switch-shaft secured to the switch-lever, a signal-carrying tube secured to a lever-arm, and pivoted on an extension of the switchshaft, a compound lock, having front and rear spring-catches, catch-bolts of the switchlever, and signal lever-arm, and a retractingspring connected to said signal lever-arm, substantially as specified.

2. In a safety switch-stand, the combination with the switch-lever, and an independently-movable signal lever-arm, of a compound lock, and a retracting device for said signal lever-arm, substantially as specified.

3. In a safety switch-stand, the combination with a switch-lever and aslide-bolt thereon, of a signal lever-arm, having a catch-bolt, a compound lock for said switch-lever and signal lever-arm, and a retracting-spring for the latter, substantially as specified.

4. The safety switch-lock, consisting of the main spring-catch, the arm -catch pivoted thereto, and its spring attached to the main spring-catch, the spring-slide, the key-form, and the adjusting-screw in the tail of the main spring-catch, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. COLVIN. Witnesses:

LAURENCE MCTURNAN, ELI OoNNER. 

